Newsletter May 2021

Solar Shed Course...

Find out how to build your own small/medium solar set up for an off-grid cabin, shed, workshop or vehicle...

This course aims to demystify and plainly explain solar electricity to those who want to know what goes on beyond the panel.  You will be given practical demos and hands on experience.  You will be shown how to calculate your energy needs and how to size a system. Where to find the parts and how not to pay more than you need to. If you don't have a project in mind it is still a good base for your solar curiosity.

We are really looking forward to welcoming Aaron to explain how a small scale solar system can be set up here; as even though we have solar panels supplying our house and barn we still have sheds and quail-pens where a solar system could supply power for heat lamps and lighting.

Our Pure Breeds have arrived...

We are very excited to be able to say that our first 2021 flock of Pure Breed hens are here...

and we have a lovely flock of young Brahma, Silkies, Polish and Sablepoot.  Details can be found on our website, orders are being taken and you can see the hens in our barn.

Hybrid Hens and Pekin Bantams...

We now have a large selection of Hybrid Hens available and a few Pekin hens available... 

All hens can be ordered through our website with covid-safe half hourly appointments for collection and our chicken pens are now open for you to have a look.  

Edible Gardens and Herb Growing

New courses for 2021 - 15th and 16th May 

Are you hoping to use your garden more this year?  Why not join us on one of our new courses looking at growing herbs and edible plants in your back garden.

These courses will help to design and plan your space, plant for success and get the most from your crops.

A fun, hands on course held in our outdoor training area, in small informal, friendly groups.  There will also be a chance to see the pigs and hens around the farm.

Reporting Varroa in Bee Hives...

A new requirement for Beekeepers

Although Varroa is known to be widespread, it continues to be one of the most serious pests faced by beekeepers and amendments to the Bee Diseases and Pests Control (England) Order 2006 came into force on the 21st April 2021 requiring all beekeepers and/or officials in GB to report the presence of Varroa in any of the hives that they manage.  This amendment will contribute to the overall pest and disease surveillance work of the National Bee Unit and allow Great Britain to comply with the Animal Health Law which is necessary for future working relationships with the European Union.

A tick box will be introduced to BeeBase (the voluntary register for beekeepers managed by the National Bee Unit).  An alternative way will be provided for those who do not wish to register on the BeeBase system.  Details of this alternative system will be provided after the 21st April (there is no more info available at time of writing).

"Image Courtesy The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), Crown Copyright"

The Wildlife Trusts - 'All our lives are better when they're a bit wild'...

Join us in taking part in The Wildlife Trusts’ #30DaysWild challenge:
Take on the UK’s biggest nature challenge next month… The Wildlife Trusts are challenging us to do one ‘wild’ thing a day throughout June. Download your digital 30 Days Wild pack today , for everything you need to start planning your wild adventure this June!  Taking part in 30 Days Wild has been proven to make you happier and healthier for months after, so it’s great for wellbeing as well as an excellent way to take on random acts of wildness! 
www.wildlifetrusts.org/30dayswild

Notes from our Apiary...

The weather has been unseasonably cold and not great for smaller colonies...

One of our hives is considerably smaller than the other. We're not entirely sure whether it is the cooler weather or the queen herself who is keeping our poly hive colony from burgeoning as it should be given how well insulated it is.

We are considering donating a small amount of sealed brood to this colony to see if it encourages the colony to grow and help support the queen in laying more eggs. Often it is a lack of bees being able to aid the queen in her laying/feeding that causes such a slow down.

Conversely our cedar national hive appears to be doing much better. Upon our last inspection we saw several frames of sealed brood surrounded by larvae and eggs.

Our bees all benefitted nicely from the glut of pollen and nectar available from the plum trees we have here at the farm. Unlike previous years, we didn't get heavy wind or rain stripping this off prematurely.

All being well with the weather, we hope to check on them next week.

Amandas Beekeeping notes ...

Our newsletter is a little early this month so Amanda's news will be added to our website soon.